Adjustable rear view mirror



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Feb. 5, 1963 D. M. NELSON ADJUSTABLE REAR VIEW MIRROR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed June 22, 1959 Biff MyW/Fia@ United States Patent O 3,076,384ADJUSTABLE REAR VIEW MIRROR Dwight M. Nelson, 19550 Harper Ave.,

Grosse Pointe, Mich. Filed June 22, 1959, Ser. No. 822,089 2 Claims.(Cl. 88-77) This invention relates to an adjustable rear view mirror.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a glare reducing rearvision mirror adapted for both night and day driving in which theadjustment or the ip action of the mirror is effected by a slidingmovement of the operating handle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rear vision mirrorwhich can be quickly and positively adjusted to any one of threepositions, whereby either a high intensity image, a lower intensityimage and a still lower intensity image is reflected to the driver, thisbeing readily effected by the mere sliding action of an operating handlewithout the necessity of carefully adjusting the mirror to therelatively critical angles required for reflection of an image of anyparticular intensity and without diverting the attention of the driverto any substantial degree.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mounting for such arear vision mirror which is free from vibration and free from the lossof proper positioning due to automobile vibration.

Another object of this invention is to provide either a two or a threeposition rear view mirror merely by using a two or a three position camsurface on the mirror supporting plate. The remainder of the mirrorconstruction remains the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rear vision mirrorwhich may be assembled Without a screw, bolt or fastener, the die casthousing or casing being so constructed as to provide studs which arepeened, spun or staked to retain the desired part.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rear vision mirror inwhich the mirror is supported on a plate which is pivotally mounted in ahousing or casing. The pivoted action of the mirror is divorced from theswivel mounting of the housing, thus during the flip action of themirror the mirror housing remains unmoved and the operating handle forpivoting or ipping the mirror is moved in one direction only. Since theswivel mounting of the housing is not used as a leverage point, a lowtension spring may be used.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a front elevation view of the unit with the mirror orrecctor removed.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of FIGURE l but with themirror in position.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the parts and FIGURE 5 is a rearperspective view of the mirror supporting plate.

The invention is shown in connection with a prismoidal mirror orreflector which is generally indicated at 10. The prismoidal mirrorwhich is well known in the art is made of a generally rectangular plateof glass with at front and rear surfaces disposed vertically at such anangle to each other as to separate the images from the front and rearsurfaces sufciently that at the distance of the drivers eyes from themirror only one of them at a time is perceptible. The mirror orreflector is thereby wedge shaped in vertical section and is arrangedwith its thicker part at the upper end. The glass plate is provided onits rear face with a coating of reflective material such as silver.

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The mirror 10 is rigidly secured to a mirror supporting plate which willbe subsequently described, which plate is pivotally or tiltably movablewith respect to the supporting casing or housing to change the angle ofthe reflective mirror. The supporting casing or housing generallyindicated at 12 is preferably die cast and is formed with studs whichare peened, spun or staked to provide the fastening means. The rear wallof the housing is offset forwardly at its opposite sides to form spacedgenerally flat surfaces 14 which extend inwardly of the centralrearwardly extending portion 16 of the rear wall.

The central portion 16 of the rear wall is provided with a centralopening 18 and the metal surrounding the opening is shaped to provide asocket 20 to receive the ball 22 which in turn is secured to an arm 24which is attached to the vehicle as is well understood.

A strip of spring steel 26 is suitably secured as by studs 28 formed inthe inside of the central portion 16 of the rear wall of the housing 12.The studs 28 pass through suitable openings in the strip 26 and arepeened over. The strip 26 extends across the front of the ball 22 and isprovided with a part-spherical seat 30 which engages the ball 22 andfrictionally clamps the ball between the strip 26 and the socket 20 andretains the ball in the socket in a frictional tight lit. The casing orhousing 12 may however be manually adjusted or swiveled by moving thecasing for alinement and the like, as is well understood, however,pivoting of the reflective mirror 10, as will be subsequently explained,is independent and divorced from the swiveling of the housing. Thepivoting of the mirror 10 will not effect the adjusted position of thehousing 12 with respect to the ball 22 and socket 20 as the frictionalengagement of the ball in the socket of the housing is greater than anypressure that might be exerted in manually sliding the slide member forchanging the angle of the reflective mirror 10.

Formed integrally with the central portion of the rear Wall of thehousing 10 and extending into the interior of the housing are a pair ofspaced bosses 32 each having a horizontally extending recess 34 toslidingly receive a sliding member generally indicated at 36 whichconsists of a wire member having a longitudinal rear portion 37 and aforwardly continuing portion 38 extending parallel to the longitudinalportion 37 and on the same plane and a downwardly extending verticalstem 39 which extends through a longitudinal slot 40 formed in the lowerforwardly extending flange 42 of the housing 12. A knob 44 is secured tothe end of the stem for manual engagement and for the purpose of slidingthe. slideable actuator 36. The slot 40 limits the sliding movement ofthe slideable member 36 in either direction and also retains same in therecesses 34.

The slideable member 36 is adapted to engage the mirror supporting plategenerally indicated at 46 on which the reflective mirror 10 is securedfor the purpose of pivoting or tilting said plate 46 and changing theposition of the reflective mirror 10.

A pair of spaced bosses 48 are formed on the opposite at surfaces of therear wall of the housing 12 and each of said bosses has a semi-circularrecess 50 to receive the bearing portions of the mirror supporting plate46. The plate 46, made preferably of metal is provided with a pair ofspaced indented surfaces 52 generally semi-circular in section which arereceived in the recesses 50 of the bosses 48 and which serve as bearingsfor the pivotal movement of the plate 46. The opposite ends of the plate46 are in the finger 56, which studs are peened to secure the fingers 56to the housing 12.

The fingers 56 are offset forwardly to engage the otset ends 54 of theplate 46. The lip 59 of the boss 58 prevents lateral displacement of thespring finger 56. The spring fingers 56 will hold the mirror supportingplate 46 in position so that the indented surfaces 52 of the plate areconfined in the recesses 50 of the bosses 58. However, the plate 46 ispivotable or tiltable with respect to the housing 12. The fingers 56 notonly hold down the plate 46, they also act to pivot the plate, thuscombining two functions in the spring fingers 56.

The plate 46 has a lower rearwardly extending tiange 62 at right anglesto the plane of the plate. The liange 62 is shaped as best shown inFIGURE 5, and is provided with a continuous cammed surface 64 havingthree stopping points designated by the numerals 66, 68, and 70. Thestopping point 66 is closest to the vertical wall of the plate 46.Stopping point 68 is intermediate and stopping point 70 is the furthestaway from the wall of the plate. As here shown the mirror is adjustableto three positions. However, if desired a mirror adjustable to twopositions may be provided by having the ange 62 provided with twostopping points instead of three as shown. No other changes arenecessary.

The prismatic mirror is suitably secured to the mirror supporting plate46 in any well-known manner as to be fixedly secured to the plate 46 tomove with said plate. To effect a positive securement the rear of themirror 10 is provided with longitudinal ribs 11 which seat inlongitudinal recesses 47 formed in the plate 46.

Operation The adjustment of the rear vision mirror is extremely simple.The mirror housing 12 is first adjusted to aline the mirror as a wholeto reect the view from the rear view of the automobile and this iseffected by swiveling and properly alining the housing through the ball22 and socket connection. When thus alined it may be adjusted fordifferent intensities of light by merely sliding the slide selectormember 36 so that the stem portion 39 engages the cammed surfaces 64which will cause the mirror supporting plate 46 and mirror 10 fixedthereon to pivot or tilt with respect to the housing 12 inside saidhousing. With the stern 39 of the slide selector engaging the firstrecess 66, the plate 46'and mirror 10 are substantially parallel withthe rear Wall of the housing 12. Sliding the selector so that it engagesthe intermediate recess 68 will pivot the plate and mirror at a slightangle with respect to the housing and sliding the selector to the thirdposition 70 will pivot the plate and mirror to a greater angle than theintermediate position. The pivoting of the plate 46 is about thelongitudinal axis defined by the recesses 50 and indented surfaces 52 asthe bearing points. While the plate and mirror are thus pivoted, asdescribed in relation to the housing, the housing remains in its fixedposition. The plate 46 will be held in any of its pivoted positions byvirtue of the spring fingers 56. Changing of the pivoted position of theplate 46 can be eiected only through the sliding of the slide selector36.

It will be understood that various changes and modiiications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable mounting for supporting from a stern having a ball atthe free end thereof, a multi-position, glare reducing rear view mirrorassembly having a casing, pressure means secured to said casing andengaging the ball for frictionally retaining the casing in adjustedposition, a mirror supporting plate secured within said casing forpivotal movement with respect to said casing on a fulcrum positionedbetween the top and bottom of said mirror supporting plate,substantially centrally of the longitudinal axis of the mirror, areflective mirror xedly secured to the front of said plate to move withsaid plate, said reliective mirror having a size and shape substantially`the entire front of said casing, said plate having a cammed surfacewith portions providing for the multipositioning of the mirror, anelongated U-shaped slidable member supported on said casing inside saidcasing and having one leg thereof slidable longitudinally on alongitudinal axis with respect to said casing and the other leg thereofhaving a portion engaging said cammed surface for simultaneouslypivoting said plate and said reiiective mirror with resp-ect to saidcasing without affecting the adjusted position of said casing, saidpressure means applying a greater pressure against said ball than themanual pressure needed to slide said slidable member, said pressuremeans engagement with said ball being independent of and divorced fromthe pivoting of said mirror supporting plate so that the pivoting ofsaid mirror supporting plate does not affect the `adjusted position ofsaid casing.

2. An adjustable mounting for supporting from a stem having a ball atthe free end thereof, a multi-position, glare reducing rear view mirrorassembly having a casing, pressure means secured to said casing andengaging the ball for frictionally retaining the casing in adjustedposition, a mirror supporting plate secured in said casing for Itiltingmovement with respect to said casing on a fulcrum positioned between thetop and bottom of said mirror supporting plate, substantially centrallyof the longitudinal axis of the mirror, a refiective mirror fixedlysecured to said plate to tilt with said plate, said retiective mirrorhaving a size and shape substantially that of the front of the casingand positioned to span substantially the entire front of said casing,said plate having a cammed surface provided with a plurality of definitestop positions `to provide multi-positioning of the mirror, an elongatedU-shaped slidable member supported on said casing and within said casingand having one leg thereof slidable longitudinally on a longitudinalaxis with respect t-o said casing and the other leg thereof having aportion engaging said cammed surface for simultaneously tilting saidplate and said reflective mirror with respect to said casing withoutaffecting the adjusted position of said casing, said slidable memberwhen engaging said definite stop positions adapted to maintain saidplate and refiective mirror in any one of several adjusted positions,said pressure means applying a greater pressure against said ball thanthe manual pressure needed to slide said slidable member, said pressuremeans engagement with said ball being independent of and divorced fromthe pivoting of said mirror supporting member so that the pivoting ofsaid mirror supporting member does not aiect the adjusted position ofsaid casing.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,052,770 Hofer Sept. 1, 1936 2,469,207 Roedding May 3, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS 757,974 Great Britain Sept. 26, 1956

1. AN ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING FOR SUPPORTING FROM A STEM HAVING A BALL ATTHE FREE END THEREOF, A MULTI-POSITION, GLARE REDUCING REAR VIEW MIRRORASSEMBLY HAVING A CASING, PRESSURE MEANS SECURED TO SAID CASING ANDENGAGING THE BALL FOR FRICTIONALLY RETAINING THE CASING IN ADJUSTEDPOSITION, A MIRROR SUPPORTING PLATE SECURED WITHIN SAID CASING FORPIVOTAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID CASING ON A FULCRUM POSITIONEDBETWEEN THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF SAID MIRROR SUPPORTING PLATE,SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE MIRROR, AREFLECTIVE MIRROR FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE FRONT OF SAID PLATE TO MOVEWITH SAID PLATE, SAID REFLECTIVE MIRROR HAVING A SIZE AND SHAPESUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE FRONT OF SAID CASING, SAID PLATE HAVING ACAMMED SURFACE WITH PORTIONS PROVIDING FOR THE MULTIPOSITIONING OF THEMIRROR, AN ELONGATED U-SHAPED SLIDABLE MEMBER SUPPORTED ON SAID CASINGINSIDE SAID CASING AND HAVING ONE LEG THEREOF SLIDABLE LONGITUDINALLY ONA LONGITUDINAL AXIS WITH RESPECT TO SAID CASING AND THE OTHER LEGTHEREOF HAVING A PORTION ENGAGING SAID CAMMED SURFACE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLYPIVOTING SAID PLATE AND SAID REFLECTIVE MIRROR WITH RESPECT TO SAIDCASING WITHOUT AFFECTING THE ADJUSTED POSITION OF SAID CASING, SAIDPRESSURE MEANS APPLYING A GREATER PRESSURE AGAINST SAID BALL THAN THEMANUAL PRESSURE NEEDED TO SLIDE SAID SLIDABLE MEMBER, SAID PRESSUREMEANS ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BALL BEING INDEPENDENT OF AND DIVORCED FROMTHE PIVOTING OF SAID MIRROR SUPPORTING PLATE SO THAT THE PIVOTING OFSAID MIRROR SUPPORTING PLATE DOES NOT AFFECT THE ADJUSTED POSITION OFSAID CASING.